Sarutobi Hiruzen continued speaking, recounting every detail of his time with Uchiha Kagami. From their daily interactions to battles fought shoulder to shoulder, Hiruzen was certain of one thing—
Uchiha Kagami would never leak news of their teacher Senju Tobirama's death.
Standing behind Hiruzen, Kagami felt emotion surge violently in his chest.
A true confidant was harder to find than gold.
He had never imagined Hiruzen would trust him to this extent.
A confidant… this is a real confidant!
Hiruzen—next time you need anything, just say the word. Your brother won't hesitate for a second!
As Hiruzen finished speaking, the spacious room fell into complete silence. No one spoke. Every gaze turned toward Uzumaki Mito, waiting for her judgment.
"Hmph."
A soft scoff escaped Mito's throat. She looked at Hiruzen, the faint smile on her lips tinged with unmistakable mockery.
"Well said. But are you truly certain you want to protect Uchiha Kagami?"
"You know this as well as I do—given Kagami's status, even if he really had leaked the information, I wouldn't kill him. At most, he'd suffer some physical punishment."
"The leak has already happened. As an Uchiha, whether Kagami did it or not, he is implicated."
"I've been played for a fool, and this old woman has anger she needs to vent."
She fixed her gaze on Hiruzen.
"Think carefully. Your answer will determine how I treat you… and your future position in Konoha."
As her words fell, Mito retracted her presence. That vast, ocean-like chakra vanished completely, and everyone in the room felt an immediate sense of relief.
Everyone—
Except Hiruzen.
Mito's question made his head throb.
He knew exactly what she meant by "position."
Hiruzen was not naïve enough to believe that a verbal appointment alone was enough to make him Hokage of the most powerful village in the shinobi world.
Even if Tobirama were still alive, pushing him onto the Hokage's seat would have faced immense resistance. Tobirama could not rule Konoha with absolute authority.
Only one man ever could—
Senju Hashirama.
And the reason was simple.
Hashirama possessed overwhelming power—power so absolute it could silence everyone.
Tobirama, by contrast, had always relied on suppression, balance, and the careful division of利益 to keep Konoha's bloodline clans in line.
Whether Hiruzen could truly inherit the Hokage's seat now depended entirely on the woman before him—
Uzumaki Mito.
Her question was painfully clear.
Brotherhood… or the Hokage's seat?
The weight of that choice was crushing. So heavy that even Hiruzen hesitated, his mind going blank for several seconds.
Watching him falter, Shimura Danzo grew frantic, itching to make the choice for him.
Of course it's the Hokage's seat!
No matter what, Kagami wouldn't die—at worst he'd be bedridden for half a year. Hiruzen had already stood up for him earlier; that alone was more than enough to repay their shared bond as fellow disciples.
At the same time, Kagami was also watching Hiruzen closely.
He hoped—sincerely—that Hiruzen would abandon him for now.
What Hiruzen had already done was more than enough. Uzumaki Mito just wanted an outlet for her anger.
A bit of physical punishment is nothing.
For a brother, I can endure it.
"Lady Mito," Hiruzen said at last, lifting his head to meet her gaze, "Uchiha Kagami is innocent. I ask that you do not take your anger out on him."
His innate sense of justice would not allow him to abandon Kagami.
"Good."
"Very good."
Mito slammed her hand against the table.
"Monkey brat—playing the hero comes with a price. I hope you can bear it."
With a sharp gesture, she ordered the surrounding Senju ninja to throw everyone except Hiruzen out of the room.
They had been kept in the Senju compound to seal the news.
Now that Tobirama's death had already spread throughout Konoha, keeping these useless brats served no purpose.
They were nothing but a waste of Senju rice.
Outside the Senju Compound
"So… that's it? We're just out like this?"
Under the quiet night sky, bathed in moonlight, Utatane Koharu felt as though she'd stepped into another world after hovering on the brink of death just moments earlier.
"What, you want to go back in?" Mitokado Homura teased.
Koharu quickly shook her head.
She'd barely escaped that dragon's den—why would she ever want to return?
She was just a bystander. The Hokage, Konoha's future—such crushing burdens were never meant for her. Better to go home, wash up, and sleep.
"Where's Hiruzen? He's still inside!"
Danzo snapped sharply, anger and worry flooding his voice.
His closest friend had been left behind in the Senju compound, his fate uncertain. Mito's earlier reaction had clearly been fueled by rage.
Hiruzen… you really are hopeless.
Back then, you volunteered to die as bait for Sensei Tobirama.
Now you're doing the same thing again.
"Relax," Kagami said quietly. "Hiruzen will be fine."
Though worried himself, Kagami understood that Mito wouldn't take Hiruzen's life—otherwise, she wouldn't have released the rest of them.
But Hiruzen's days ahead will not be easy.
Mito's anger had nowhere else to go now.
And the only one left in the Senju compound—
It was Hiruzen.
"Shut up, Uchiha Kagami," Danzo barked. "This is all your fault! If it weren't for you and the Uchiha, Hiruzen wouldn't be stuck in there!"
"The news of Sensei Tobirama's death came from the Uchiha. I'll trust you for Hiruzen's sake—for now."
"But if I find out you really leaked it… I won't let you off."
Danzo vented all his fury at Kagami, blaming him for everything.
Kagami said nothing.
He wanted to argue—but stopped himself.
If their positions were reversed, he wouldn't believe himself either.
Including Mito, only seven people had known the truth. The news had spread instantly—and the source was the Uchiha.
Out of those seven, he was the only one with the Uchiha name.
This sky-high black pot couldn't just be dumped on his head like this. He wasn't strong enough to carry it.
Danzo raged for a long while. Kagami endured it all in silence.
Let him curse.
If it's for Hiruzen… I can accept it.
Eventually, Danzo grew tired. He shot Kagami one last vicious glare and turned away, heading toward his home.
Koharu, Homura, and Akimichi Torifu followed suit, offering curt farewells before leaving. They, too, didn't trust Kagami—only their reactions were less extreme than Danzo's.
Watching his former companions drift away in cold silence, Kagami clenched his fists.
I will uncover the truth.
Whoever leaked that information—
Just you wait.
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